NixOS must enforce a 60-day maximum password lifetime restriction.
Severity | Group ID | Group Title | Version | Rule ID | Date | STIG Version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium | V-268133 | SRG-OS-000076-GPOS-00044 | ANIX-00-000800 | SV-268133r1131071_rule | 2025-08-19 | 1 |
Description
Any password, no matter how complex, can eventually be cracked. Therefore, passwords need to be changed periodically. If the operating system does not limit the lifetime of passwords and force users to change their passwords, there is the risk that the operating system passwords could be compromised.
ℹ️ Check
Verify NixOS enforces a 60-day maximum password lifetime for new user accounts by running the following command:
$ grep PASS_MAX_DAYS /etc/login.defs
PASS_MAX_DAYS 60
If the "PASS_MAX_DAYS" parameter value is less than 60 or commented out, this is a finding.
✔️ Fix
Configure NixOS operating system to enforce a 60-day maximum password lifetime.
Add the following Nix code to the NixOS Configuration, usually located in /etc/nixos/configuration.nix or /etc/nixos/flake.nix:
security.loginDefs.settings.PASS_MAX_DAYS = "60";
Rebuild and switch to the new NixOS configuration:
$ sudo nixos-rebuild switch